|
A.D.A. needs you to act on any puppy advertisement you see which advertises docked puppies. Please read below
first and also send a copy to A.D.A.
of any complaint you make to a Local Authority so we can assess the number of
instances where the law appears to be being flouted.
If anyone can give me the contact point of their Local Authority I would be grateful as am endeavouring to build up
index at this link
Local Authorities
Regulations for tail docking were debated in both England and Wales as a part of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and
these Regulations
came into force on
28th March in Wales and 6th April in England. Under the Regulations,
in England and Wales:
WALES - The list of truly working dog breeds exempted and as amended in the Welsh Plenary as from 28th March 2007
(although some may be found not to be suitable for work later) is now as follows:
SPANIELS: of only the following breeds will be eligible English Springer Spaniel; Welsh Springer Spaniel; Cocker Spaniel,
but not combinations of breeds and
TERRIERS of only the following breeds will be eligible Jack Russell Terrier, Cairn Terrier (normally undocked!)
Lakeland Terrier,
Norfolk Terrier - but not combinations of breeds.
H(unt)P(oint)R(etrieve) breeds remain as originally drafted. Bracco Italiano; Brittany; German Long-haired Pointer; German
Wire-haired Pointer; Hungarian Vizsla; Hungarian Wire-Haried Vizsla; Italian Spinone; Spanish Water Dog;
Weimaraner;
Korthals Griffon; Slovakian Rough-Haired Pointer; Large Munsterlander; Small Munsterlander.
This does not apply to dogs bred as pets.
Also see this link:-
http://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/environmentcountryside/ahw/animal_welfare/Companiondomesticanimalwelfare/taildockingregulations
/?lang=en
Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals,
fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/draft/20075778.htm
SCOTLAND - The Animal Welfare Act bans certain "mutilations" which includes dog tail docking except
for therapeutic reasons as from 30th April, 2007.
Scottish Executive:-
'If dogs are to be taken from Scotland for the purpose of
having the tails of their
puppies docked, to be then brought back to Scotland for sale, it is likely that the courts would consider
this to be a journey in connection with an economic activity. As a consequence the provision of Council
Regulation (EC) no 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport would apply. The significance
of this Regulation is that the animals must be "fit to travel" and Chapter 1 of Annex 1 of the Regulation
states that pregnant female for whom 90% or more of the expected gestation period has already passed and
females who have given birth in the previous week are not considered fit for transport. Thus if a dog were to
be taken from Scotland to give birth, she would need to make the journey at least 6 days before the expected
date of the birth and could not be transported back for 7 days following the birth.'END
A review of the legislation may be done later. We approve
of this legislation.
Scotland has not banned the showing
of docked dogs.
The penalty for docking
a dog's tail will be a fine of up to£5,000 and/or six months imprisonment. see this link for
the complete Act:-
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/acts2006/20060011.htm
N. IRELAND - Still ongoing consultation as at June 2007 but law currently remains as it was pre 2006.
|
 ANIMAL WELFARE ACT - ENGLAND 6th April 2007 - & WALES 27th March 2007
COMES INTO FORCE..
NO MORE DOCKING (EXCEPT FOR THE EXEMPTIONS).
A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP WITH THIS.
|
| |
|
KENNEL CLUB ADVICE ON DOCKING AS FROM 14/3/07 -
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk:80/item/999
11/07 The Kennel Clubs have said that they will not take part in 'e nforcing the legislation which bans dogs from certain shows considering
that this is a matter for the appropriate authorities . As a result of the regulation change, owners of legally docked dogs, docked on or after
6th April 2007 who wish to exhibit at Kennel Club licensed shows are required to apply for permission to show their dogs. It should be noted
that such dogs are only eligible to be exhibited in England and Wales at shows which do not charge the public for admission but may be
exhibited at all licensed shows in Scotland and Northern Ireland . '
|
3/3/07 - DOCKING OF EXEMPTED DOGS - Vets will not be forced to dock dogs' that are on the exemption lists on request of the breeders . The choice will be theirs.
What has to be decided is that, if they do dock, at what length? Above or below the supra-caudal scent glands, an arbitrary or by protocol length? |
|
16/2/07 DOCKING REGULATION exemptions FOR ENGLAND (draft) http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/draft/20075778.htm
Wales's ban comes into force 31st March 2007; England's docking ban comes into force on 6th April; Scotland on 30th April 2007.
The English Regulations we were led to believe were to go through a "Consultation" process. What a waste of everyone's time! Where, when and how?!
This is certainly not evident as the draft regulations appear to be unchanged from their original format. The regulations are weak and
practically unenforceable being mainly left to Local Authorities who will have no extra funding. Private prosecutions can be made at the expense
of the individual (refundable we are told if case is won!) Ethical Vets will have the uneviable task of having to deal with clients trying to bluff them
into docking a litter(s).
From recent discussion it is obvious that there are breeders in Gundogs who will go to any lengths to get litters docked.
No good reasons have been given for still incorporating crossbreeds to the already large list of exemptions and no central register is to be kept in
order
for a paper trail audit. No DNA testing to be done and there will be weeks apart from the docking procedure and microchipping. Evidence as to
the dog's likelihood to work can be presented to a Vet from just about anybody. Dogs that weren't docked can now be docked. This part of the Act is
a total
whitewash and failure to deal with animal welfare which the government likes to proudly boast it does. We hope that the Statutory Instruments'
Committee will see just how wrong and difficult these regulations will be to enforce and will send them back for unbiased revisions. How can we be
sure that those involved with these regulations did not have a vested interest themselves?
Scotland much to its credit, has got it RIGHT with a total ban with scientific review. WELL DONE SCOTLAND.
|
14/2/07  WESTMINSTER BRIEFING ON THE ANIMAL WELFARE ACT. Held at The Commonwealth Club, London. GSP and
Vizsla breeders and GSP rescue were present as were all other parties including A.D.A. involved in the Act. Chaired by Cllr Geoffrey Theobald LACORS.,
Presentations were by Chloe Nash Barrister DEFRA, Graham Thurlow, Veterinary Adviser DEFRA, Richard Brunstrom N Wales Police, ACPO.,
Claire Robinson Government Relations Manager, RSPCA, |
1/07 SCOTLAND is having a FULL TAIL DOCKING BAN with no exemptions as from 30th April 2007. It will not be permissible for
dogs to be taken across borders to be docked. The penalty for docking will be £5,000 fine and/or 6 months' imprisonment
http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/News/Releases/2007/02/07102500
The regulations will be approved by Committee in time for the Act to come into force in April 2007. |
IRELAND - have already had their consultation and it closed on 6th December, 2007. ADA was not given information as a stakeholder but in order
for legislation to be complied with ADA was permitted to send in a late submission. |
22/12/06 RCVS disciplinary case regarding docking by a Cheltenham Veterinary Surgeon. 15/12/06 - Vet John McKenna has been accused of docking 11 Weimaraner
puppies. He was due to face the RCVS hearing Committee on 12/12/06
Geoff Gill (RCVS) commented It isn't acceptable to hack a chunk of an animal's body off. If the Vet can prove the animals were intended for working purposes it may
be permitted. The exception exists to prevent working dogs from damaging their tails when going through bushes and undergrowth
The Vet said that he was told that these dogs MIGHT grow up to become working dogs so I docked their tails. It isn't illegal to dock the tails of working dogs. ....It's
something I may only carry out once a year. If someone rang me and asked me to dock the tail of a greyhound I'd say no." 22/12/06 He was found guilty and was
removed
from register for 28 days.
In 1995 Marshall Dale was first and last Vet for 11 years to be charged by the RCVS and was acquitted.. Defence costs in excess of £25,000 were met by the
CDB (hunting
lady who supports them in a big way financially I seem to remember being told!)
At last the RCVS has acted but the case (RCVS complaints procedure) had to be brought by the breeder herself who apparently claimed that a puppy
died as a result and others got infected stumps.
Since this is the first docking disciplinary action case since 1995 when Marshall Dale was found not guilty on the evidence provided (defence costs
provided
by CDB funds in excess of £25,000) perhaps now they will investigate some of the other Vets who are making a good income from CDB docking
referrals. However until the RCVS change the complaints procedure which only permits the aggrieved client to lodge a complaint they are unlikely
to be seen
proceeding against those Vets on the CDB list.
We are hopeful they will consider changing this when the Veterinary Surgeons' Act comes under review.
|
8/11/06 WESTMINSTER - Animal Welfare Bill received Royal Assent. We now have the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which will come into force in
England on 6 th April 2007. Regulations still have to be agreed on various sections of the Act including docking exempted working dogs. |
| 6/11/06 WESTMINSTER - Commons - Proceedings on Consideration of Lords' Amendments - Lords Amendments Nos. 1 to 70 agreed |
31/10/06 WESTMINSTER - Lords' Marshalled List of Amendments for 3rd reading - Clause 6 is the appropriate clause
. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/240/06240.1-5.html |
1/11/06 WESTMINSTER - Lords' approved amendments for the AWB to move to the Commons
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmbills/240/06240.1-5.html
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldhansrd/pdvn/lds06/index/061101.html#contents |
|
6/10/06 SCOTLAND The Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act comes into force April 2007 - docking banned unless exemptions are
made under regulations
|
9/06 SCOTTISH KENNEL CLUB - Is attempting to overturn the docking ban in Scotland by petition. They aim to get 10,000 signatures in the hope that this will be
sufficient 'for Parliament to take notice ' The SKC say that the working dog exemption was lost because evidence proving the type of injuries caused to the tails of
undocked working dogs has been hard to produce'. |
7/06 SCOTLAND - Animal Welfare Bill has had Royal assent. The Bill has the intention of introducing a total ban on tail docking with no exceptions for
"working" dogs. However there will be further consultations in October to allow representations from those bodies who feel that they can prove a need for
exemption through scientific evidence. It will not be lawful for breeders to cross the border to get their dogs docked. |
31/5/06 TODAY'S VICTORY. SCOTLAND THE BRAVE! Have voted for a total tail docking ban today (subject to regulation). Many
realised the difficulties in legislation for exemptions without loopholes. They have also included an amendment which does not permit breeders to take dogs
over the border to get them docked. |
4/5/06 - Government Departmental shuffle - David Miliband has taken over DEFRA from Margaret Beckett. He didn't vote
at all on docking in the Commons' vote on 14/3/06.......... Eric Morley has also left. |
|
